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Sumit SinghalSumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

The Park Hotel is located in a strategic point in Heiden, where different urban conditions come together: The landscape continuity crossing the plot area, the particular building density and its relevant position from the main entrance to the city. Those realities are shaping the final proposal, in order to achieve a perfect urban integration, enhance the environment qualities, and make city, within the strict respect of urban regulations.

The building is composed of two volumes: the main building is a five-story compact volume, perfectly integrated in the surrounding urban fabric, with a minimal footprint in the plot area. The second volume is a low elevated cylinder for the conference room. The intersection of both volumes signs the main entrance door and articulates the connec­tion inside/outside, by creating an exterior covered space for drop-off area. A single central core provides vertical circulations in the building, with a closed stair and 2 panoramic eleva­tors. A central corridor deserves the rooms, and the public spaces in the ground floor level.

Image courtesy Kubota & Bachmann Architects

The public programs are organized in the first level, a 6,5m double-height space for the reception, lobby area, bar and breakfast room. Meeting rooms and offices are organized in a mezzanine level, along a corridor also connecting to the conference room. Above, there are the upper room levels. A simple layout repeats to make clear technical installations and structure. There are 10 standard rooms and 3 high-standard rooms at each floor.

Image courtesy Kubota & Bachmann Architects

The elevation is also divided in 2 parts in order to divide main uses: the elevation for the public program in the Ground Floor and 1st levels is a curtain wall with thick vertical wooden mullions, with natural ventilation inlet integrated. The transparent elevation is combined with an opaque façade for the technical logistic spaces, inspired of typical elevation textures in the area, with diagonal beams cladded in wood, and small glass openings between. Wood and glass provide continuity to the predominant vegetal landscape around and ensure a big transparence for public spaces of the building.

Image courtesy Kubota & Bachmann Architects

Regarding the rooms levels, a skin of small vertical louvers frames the windows of the rooms, creating a dyna­mic vibration to the elevation through the light-and-shadow effect under the daylight. These small louvers have 2 different materials according to the orientation: To the south, louvers are made of white resin board, esta­blishing a close dialogue with the modern architecture language of the Kursaal, and surrounding buildings.

Image courtesy Kubota & Bachmann Architects

That dialogue is reinforced by the pure and modern elevated cylinder. For the north part, oriented towards the big landscape and towards the lake, the louvers will be cladded in cupper, close to the natural green tones of the vegetation around. The same elevation system is adapting for both conditions. Finally, the solar panels on the roof are considered as a part of the building design. The vertical skin tilts down to create the inclined surface of the solar panel, giving a colorful and geometrical continuity.

Image courtesy Kubota & Bachmann Architects

LANDSCAPE

The landscape design is entirely guided by a single purpose: to extend as much as possible the influence of Kurpark. Different spaces of the village (Kurpark, Durant Platz) are connected in order to reduce the barriers that sepa­rate them. The surroundings of the new hotel are designed as an extension of the park. Existing trees are preserved and new species of plantations are derived from the plant palette already presented. The car roads along the Seeallee are slowed down by the complexity of the plot. The parking places of the project are disposed between the planted areas along the road.